The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their preseason with a commanding 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium, showcasing strong performances from young quarterbacks while drawing attention for an uncharacteristic 11 penalties totaling 134 yards.
Opening night at Acrisure Stadium offered a sweeping look at a team navigating its first summer under new leadership following Mike Tomlin’s departure after 19 seasons. While the scoreboard favored the hosts heavily, the evening’s real story unfolded across a busy quarterback depth chart, standout rookie flashes, and a remarkably untidy special teams performance that left plenty for the coaching staff to review.
Quarterback Competition Answers the Early Call
With Aaron Rodgers settling the pre-game speculation by appearing on the sidelines in street clothes, the spotlight turned directly to the trio vying for snaps. Veteran Mason Rudolph set an efficient tone on his two drives under center, completing 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards. Though a fourth-down stall near the goal line left points on the field, Rudolph’s steady command reinforced that the backup battle remains fully active.
The younger signal-callers capitalized on their opportunities with equal poise. Making his NFL debut, Will Howard orchestrated a sharp two-minute drill at the end of the first half, finishing 7 for 9 for 86 yards and capping the march with a touchdown strike facilitated by two completions to tight end Robert Tonyan. Meanwhile, rookie third-round pick Drew Allar delivered a nearly flawless second-half performance, leading three touchdown drives, throwing for 154 yards with two scores, and finishing with a 154.8 quarterback rating.
Green Bay Kicker Brightens a Difficult Preseason Opener
For the Packers, the standout performance belonged to rookie kicker Trey Smack, who delivered a perfect night under pressure despite the team’s defensive struggles. Smack converted all four of his field goal attempts, highlighted by a pair of booming 58-yard kicks. His first long-range conversion to end the opening drive was wiped out by a Steelers personal foul, prompting an adventurous conversation on the sideline.
LaFleur admitted to the back-and-forth with special teams coordinator Cam Achord before letting Smack try from distance. To hit really two (from 58) in one game is pretty incredible,
LaFleur said after the loss, adding that the rookie was definitely a bright spot for us.
Green Bay’s No. 3 quarterback, Kyle McCord, also left a positive impression by engineering a rapid 37-second drill that culminated in Smack’s second 58-yard field goal just before halftime.
Rookie Standouts and Defensive Disconnects
Beyond the quarterbacks, several newcomers flashed high-end potential. Steelers fourth-round draft pick Kaden Wetjen turned a short middle reception into a 74-yard gain in the third quarter, exploiting a coverage breakdown by Packers cornerback Jaylin Simpson. Rookie receiver Germie Bernard added four catches for 51 yards, while outside linebacker Jamin Davis anchored the Pittsburgh defense with eight tackles and two sacks.
Conversely, the depth units for Green Bay struggled to contain Pittsburgh’s relentless tempo after the opening quarter. Steelers quarterbacks combined for just six incompletions, carving up the secondary for 333 total yards and four long touchdown drives. The Packers’ late-game offensive series also sputtered, ending with undrafted rookie quarterback Kyron Drones absorbing three sacks across six plays.
Penalty Trouble and Discipline Concerns in Pittsburgh
Despite the lopsided final score, the most glaring takeaway for the home side centered on lack of discipline. In Danny Crossman’s debut as special teams coach, the unit unraveled with a flurry of infractions. Defensive linemen Dean Lowry, Ben Skowronek, and Israel Mukuamu accumulated personal fouls, while linebacker Cole Holcomb was flagged both for a kickoff-return holding penalty and a later personal foul for hitting sliding Packers quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Offensive line penalties similarly plagued the starters. Left tackle Troy Fautanu endured a forgettable first start, committing an illegal procedure infraction and a holding penalty that erased a Lew Nichols touchdown run. In total, the Steelers compiled 11 penalties for 134 yards, providing an immediate correction list before the team returns to Saint Vincent College for its final training camp practices ahead of an August 21 preseason matchup against the New York Jets.
